Yieldably mounted tiltable support for mine timbering machines



Nov. 13, 1951 c. F. BALL 2,574,857

YIELDABLY MOUNTED TILTABLE SUPPORT FOR MINE TIMBERING'MACHINES Filed May l, 1948 Patented Nov. 13, 1951 "YIELDABLY MOUNTED TILTABLE SUPPORT vFOR MINE TIMBERING vMACHINES Charles .F.BalL Franklin, Pa., assgnor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania 'Application May 1, 1948, Serial No. 24,534

1'2 Claims.

This invention relatestofyieldably mounted, tiltable supports andl more particularlyto a tiltable, spring-mounted, timber support for a timber setting machine.

In a timber setting machine ofthe type disclosed ina copending application to Felderman and Knoizen. Serial No. 746,832,1lled May8, 1947, there is a timber carrying body mounted on wheels adapted to travel over the floor of a mine. A horizontal arm is pivotally mounted on the body to swing horizontally with respect thereto, andcarried at its free f end at one end of the body is a telescopichydraulic jack; Vand va timber support is elevated by the 'jack to bring a timber thereon up against a mine roof, and the jack serves to hold the timber up against the roof during setting of the upright props. Since the roof of an underground mine is usually uneven, it is desirable yieldingly to mount the timber support on the jack in such manner as to enable the timber toaccommodate itself to the uneven roof, thereby to protect thejack from substantial later-al stresses. In accordance with the present invention, the timber support is spring-mounted on the; jack and is transversely tiltable to accomplish therdesired results above outlined. The springs arepreloaded so that a slight ofi-balancing of the timberon the support will not cause undesired tilting :of the support during elevation iol?A the Jack, `and the support may tilt aga-insty the'actionofgthe ipreloaded springs only `when the timber `is pressed against the uneven rootand is firmly held there. i l

It is an object of` the present inventionVV to provide an improved yieldably mounted, tiltable'sups port. Another object is toprovideanj improved transversely tiltable, spring-mounted, timber support for a timber setting machine whereby a timber may be held .upagainst an l,uneven mine roof. A further object is to providepan improved tiltable, spring-mountedF timber support which has a timber receiving platform mounted on preloaded springs 'so that the support may; tilt only when the timber is,l'ie1d-.withV substantial force up against anuuneven'mineroof. Yetl another object is to Vprovide an-improved-transversely tiltable, spring-mounted;Supportwofnovel construction whereby extremeavertical v compactness is attained. These andotheriobj'eotsnand advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear in the course of the ensuing description and as more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may Lassume in practice.

In this drawing: f Y l Fig. 1 is aside elevational view of a timber setting machine with which an illustrative form of the improved tiltabletimber support is associated, showing the machine is operating` position in a mine, with a timber held up against the mine roof.

Fig.. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the timber support.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged'cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3` of Fig. 2, with the spring housings partially broken away to show the spring structure.

Fig. 4is -a `side elevational view oi. the timber support shown in Fig. 42. f

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical detail sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in central longitudinal vertical section taken on line fia-6 of Fig. 2, with a tilted position of the platform indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3.

.In this illustrativeconstruction, as shown in the drawing, the improved timbersupport, generally designated i, is associated with a timber setting machine generally designated 2. Evidently, the improved tiltable support may be associated with other types of apparatus.

The timbersetting machine 2, as above mentioned, may be of thev kind disclosed in the Felderman and Knoizen application, Serial No. 746,832, which comprises a portable body 3 mounted on Wheels 4 and 5 adapted to travel over the'iloor of amine. The Abody has a -compartment adapted tocarry a load of mine timbers and props, and extending lengthwise of the compartment beneath the bottom thereof and pivotally mounted on the body to swing horizontally with respect thereto is a horizontal arm 6. This arm projects outwardly from one end-of the body and carries, at itsiree outer end, a vertical hydraulic lack 'l' comprising telescopically arranged cylinderand piston elements, as fully disclosed in the above mentioned copending application. Also carried by the arm 6 and projecting below the arm is a vertical hydraulic jack 8 for, at times, supporting the arm 6 and steadying the upper jack 1.

The improved timber support I is preferably of a fabricated welded construction and is carried by the upper piston element I of the vertical jack 1 and comprises a horizontal bottom member or plate II having secured thereto, as by welding, a central hub I2 which is threadedly, or otherwise, secured at I3 to the upper portion of the jacll; piston `element I0, as Vshown in Figs. 3 and 6. frThe piston element I0 has a shoulder I 4 which supports the bottom plate, as shown. Mounted on the top of the plate I I is a centrally located support member I5 which may be secured, as by welding, to the bottom plate. The support member I 5 is preferably square in shape and has a central opening I5 which receives the plate hub I2 so that the latter projects above the top of the support member. The support member I5 has a curved upper surface I1 struck on a radius from a point located below the support at the axial center of the jack piston element I0. An upper supporting member or plate I8 rests on the curved upper surface I1 of the central support at vopposite sides of the latter so that the upper plate may rock or tilt about a transverse axis relative to the bottom plate, and the upper plate preferably has a central opening I9 of larger diametersthan the diameter of the central hub I2 and into which the upper portion of the central hub projects with sufcient clearance topermit free limited'tilting of the upper plate. By arranging the central hub of the bottom plate in openings in the support member I5 an'dupper plate I8, an extremely vertically comypact structure is provided. `The upper supporting plate has an upper plane surface which provides a horizontal platform for receiving a mine timber which constitutes the load, and the upper plate has vertical side plates or flanges 2I forguiding a timber onto the platform and for preventing undesired lateral' displacement of the timber from the platform. For retainingl the vupper plate I8 in positionon the lower plate while permitting limited-tilting of the upper plate, there are provided side retaining members 22 secured, as by screws 23, to the upper plate, as 'shown in Fig. 3. These retaining members have 'inner'ledges or projections 24 which underlie the'side edges of the central support member I5 and are formed with curved upper surfaces 25 `(see Fig. 7) which contact the bottom of the support member. These curved surfaces 25 are struck on a smaller radius than the upper curved surface I1 of the central support member I5, with the axes of both surfaces in a plane in which the jack axis lies. The radius of the curved Surfaces 25 of the side retaining members 22 is an extremely rigid platform structure. Secured. as by welding, to the side retaining plates or flanges 2| of the platform are inverted cupshaped elements or spring housings 21 containing coil springs 28 which are guided and held under predetermined compression by bolts 29. These bolts have upper heads 3U engaging centering washers 3I for the upper ends of the springs, and the bolts extend downward freely through openings 32 in the bottom plate. Nuts 33, threaded on the lower ends of the bolts,engage the bottom of the bottom plate 4II, and these nuts are locked in adjustedfpositionsi. e., when the springs are placed under'the desired compression, by lock nuts 34 threaded on the bolts. The preloaded springs, which may be called equalizing springs, are so arranged and held in position'by the bolts that the springs at one end of the platform do not expand when the platform is tilted down to compress the springs at its opposite end, and the preloaded springs serve to maintain the platform in a substantially horizontal position even when a timber thereon is slightly off-balance.

In use, the timber support may be turned with the upper piston element I0 of the jack into a position wherein thepl'atform extends lengthwise of vthe body'of the'machine; and with the jack lowered, a timber, designated T in Fig. 1, may be slid endwise from the body compartment of themachine onto' the platform. The support and the timber thereon may then be turned manually into a position crosswise of the body, as shown in Fig. l, andupon suitable supply of liquid under pressure tothe pack, the support may be elevated to bring thev timber up against the roof. When the timber is placed on the platform and is elevated by the j ack, the preloaded springs prevent undesired tilting of the platform even when thel timber is somewhat off-balance on the platform. When the timber is elevated with the support and is held with considerable force up against the mine roof, and the roof is uneven, the platform may tilt on its spring mounting to enable the timber to accommodate itself to the uneven roof. Thus, the timber may be firmly held up against the roof with the' forces applied to the timber at'points as near to the center of the jack4 as possible, and thereby protect the jack from substantial lateral stresses.

As a result of this invention,"an improved yieldably mounted, tiltable support is provided which is yieldingly maintained in substantially horizontal position even when the load thereon is somewhat off-balance, and is tiltable with the load only when the latter encounters substantial exshorter than the radius of the curved surface I1 1 of the central support member I5 desirably by an amount exceeding the maximum thickness of the central support member. Thus the upper plate I8 may tilt about a transverse axis relative to the bottom plate while firmly retained in position on the bottom plate. Arranged transversely at the ends of the upper plate I8 are tubular reinforcing elements 26 secured, as by welding, to the ends of the upper plate, and these ytubular elements provide curved end guide surtraneous resistance, tending'to tilt the load. It will further-be evident that an improved springmounted, tiltable timber support is provided for a timber setting machine wherein the timber-receiving'platform is maintained in substantially horizontal position by preloaded springs even when a timber is supported in substantially offbalance position thereon, and which lis transversely tiltable when the timber i's engaged with an uneven'mine roof and substantial upward holding pressures are imparted to the support. The novel arrangement of the support parts provides for an extremely vertically compact structure. By the provision of the improved support structure embodying'the tiltable plate and the mounting therefor,v an extremely simple and rugged construction is attained. Other advantages of the invention-will be'clearly apparent to those' skilled 1n the art.

While thereis-in this application specifically described one. form which theinvention mayassume-in practice, it will belunderstoodthatthis form of the same is shownfor-purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modied and-embodiedin variousl other forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or the.` scope of -theappended claims.

What I claim as new and desire tosecure/by Letters Patent is: Y 1. Ina yieldably. mounted, tiltable. support, the combination comprising a base member, an elongatedload receiving platform-mounted onV said base member to tilt about a transverse axis rrelative thereto, said axis of tilt; located substantially midway between the ends of said platform, and preloaded yieldable elements arranged-between said base member and said platform at `points spaced equidistantly from the platform-pivot and on which said platform at the opposite sides of its pivotv rests and is entirely supported atits ends when in horizontalr position for normally preventing undesired tilting of said platformin the event a load is in slightly off-balance position thereon, means for maintaining'saidelements under a predetermined compression, said elementsyieldable to permit tilting of said platform about said transverse axis only when the load has a substantial extraneous force imparted. thereto tending to tilt the load, said yieldable elements at one end of said platform being further compressedas said end tilts downwardly relative to said base .member due ,to unbalanced loading of said platform while the opposite end of said platform tilts upwardly away from said expanded preloaded yieldable elements at said opposite'end whereby said upwardly tilted end is at thattime supported on said base member wholly independently of said elements last referred to.

y 2. A spring-mounted tiltable support comprising, in combination, an elongated horizontal base member, an elongated' horizontal ,load receiving platform arranged above said base member, means for pivotally mounting said platform on said base member substantially centrally between the ends thereof wherebywhen oneend of said platform tilts downwardly the opposite end thereof tilts up, and preloaded -springs arranged between said platform and saidv base member at points spaced from the platform-pivot -for normally maintaining said platform in substantially horizontal position even when a loadis in slightly off -balance position thereon, means for maintaining said springs under a predetermined compression, and said springsbeing further compressible at one said end of said pivot. to permit tiltingof one end of said platform downwardly at said side against the action of saidfsprings only' inV the event a substantial extraneous force `isiimparted to the load tending `to tilt the load, theopposite end of said platform as the'latter tilts raising up relative to said fully expanded, preloaded springs at'the opposite side ofV said `pivot whereby said raisedend of said platform-is supported by said base member whollyindependently of said springs last referred to.

3. A tiltable spring-mountedsupport comprising, in combination, an elongated horizontal base plate, an elongated horizontal upper:v plate Varranged above said lbase plate and providingV a load receiving platform, a centrally located support member carried -by said baSeJplate and having a curved upper surface onwhioh the central portion of said. upper plate restsfandalongwhich said .upper `plate .is kadapta-:dto rockyv rela- .tive to said base plate, and pre-loaded springs arranged between said plates at the opposite sides `of said support member for normally maintaining said upper plate in substantially horizontal position even when a load thereon is slightly oif balance, means for maintaining said springs under a predetermined compression, said springs yieldable by further compression thereof to permit tilting of one end of said upper plate downwardly relative to said base plate against the action of said springs at one .side of the pivot only when a substantial extraneous force is imparted to the load tending to tilt the load, the opposite end of said platform as the latter is tilted moving away from the fully expanded preloaded springs at the opposite side of the pivot whereby said raised end of said platform is supported vby said base plate Wholly independently of said springs last referred to.

4. A tiltable spring-mounted support, comprising, inf combination, an elongated horizontal base plate, a horizontal upper plate arranged above said base plate and providing a load receiving platform, a centrally located support member carried by said base plate and having a curved upper surface on which said upper plate rests and along which said upper plate is adapted to rock relative to said base plate, means for retaining said upper plate in position on said central support member including a retaining element secured to said upper plate and having a curved surface struck on a smaller radius vthan the curved upper surface of saidsupport member and Acontacting the'lower'surface of said support member, and Apreloaded springs arranged between said plates at the opposite sides of said support member for maintaining said upper plate in substantially horizontal position even when a load thereon is slightly off balance, and yieldable to permit tilting of said upper plate relative to said base plate against the action of certain of said springs only when a substantial extraneous force is imparted to the load tending to -tilt the load.

5. In a spring-mounted, transversely tiltable support, the combination comprising a horizontal base plate, an elongated horizontal upper plate arranged above said base plate and providing a load receiving platform, a relatively xed cen;- trally located pivot member carried by said base plate anden which said upper plate rests between its ends and on which said upper plate is adapted to rock relative to said base plate, and. spring connections between said plates at points spaced from said pivot .member including inverted cupshaped spring housings secured to said upper plate, springs arranged in said housings and engaging the upper surface of said base plate, and bolts arranged centrally of said springs between the latter and said base plate for maintaining said. springs under a predetermined compression whereby said springs normally tend to hold said upper plate against tilting even when a load is in slightly off-balance position thereon, and said springsv further compressible at'one side of the pivot to permittilting of one end of said upper plate downwardly only When a substantial extraneous force is imparted to the load tending to tilt the latter, said upper plate as its opposite `end tilts upwardly moving away from said fully expanded, preloaded springs at the opposite side of the pivot, andsaid latter springs at that time held against expansion by their associated bolts; said upper. plate @when in said tilted position .being supported by. said base plate wholly. independently of said preloaded springs last referred 6. A spring-mounted, tiltable support adapted for use with the elevating jack of a timber setting machine, comprising, in combination, a horizontal base member carried by an adjustable element of said jack, an elongated timber receiving platform pivotally mounted on said base member to tilt on a relatively xed pivot about a transverse axis relative to said base member, said axis of tilt located substantially midway between the ends of said platform, and preloaded spring connections arranged between said platform and said base member at points spaced from the opposite sides of said pivot axis for normally maintaining said platform in substantially horizontal position even when a timber is received thereon in slightly off-balance position, means for maintaining said springs under a predetermined compression, said springs yieldable by further compression thereof to permit tilting of said platform only when the timber is held up with substantial force by said jack against an uneven mine roof, said platform as it tilts downwardly at one end further compressing the springs at that side of the pivot while the opposite end of said platform tilts upwardly away from the fully expanded, preloaded springs at the opposite side of the pivot whereby said raised end of said platform is at that time wholly supported by said base member independently of said preloaded springs last referred to.

'7. A yieldably mounted, tiltable support comprising, in combination, a base member having a central upstanding hub, a centrally located support member having an opening through which which said hub extends, a horizontal platform arranged above said base member and pivotally mounted on said support member, said platform having a central opening for receiving the upper portion of said hub and of larger size than said hub to provide clearance to permit tilting of said platform relative to said base member, and yieldable spring connections between said platform and said base member at opposite sides of said central support in spaced relation with respect to the pivot.

8. Ay yieldably mounted, tiltable support comprising, in combination, a base member having a central upstanding hub, an elongated horizontal platform arranged above said base member, means for pivotally mounting said platform on said base member to tilt about a transverse axis located substantially midway between the ends of said platform, said pivotal mounting means maintaining said platform against tilting about a longitudinal axis, said platfform having a central opening into which said hub projects and of larger size than said hub to provide clearance to permit tilting of said platform relative to said base member, and yieldable connections between said base member and said platform at the opposite sides of said pivotal mounting means in equidistant spaced relation with respect to the transverse pivot for normally maintaining said platform in a horizontal position even when supporting an unbalanced load.

9. A yieldably mounted, tiltable support comprising, in combination, a base member having a central upstanding hub, a central support member having an opening through which said hub extends, said central support having a curved upper suface, a horizontal platform resting between its ends on said curved surface of said central support and having a centralopening into to said base member, and yieldable spring connections between' said platform and said base member at opposite sides of said central support in spaced relation with respect to the pivot.

10. A yieldably mounted, tiltable support comprising, in combination, a base member having a central upstanding hub, a central support member having an opening through which said hub extends, said central support having a curved upper surface, a platform resting on said curved surface of said central support and having a central opening into which the upper portion of said hub extends and of a larger size than said hub to permit tilting of said platform, retaining members secured to said platform and underlying said central support and having curved surfaces struck on a smaller radius than said curved surface of said central support to permit tilting of said platform relative to said central support, and yieldable spring connections between said platform and said base member at opposite sides of said central'support.

l1. A yieldably mounted, tiltable support comprising, in combination, a base member, an elongated horizontal load-receiving platform overlying said base member, means for pivotally mounting the central portion of said platform on said' base member to rock relative to said base member about a horizontal axis, coil springs carried bysaid base member near its ends and spaced equidistantly from said transverse axis, and means connected to said base member and engaging the upper ends of said springs for com-v pressing the latter to maintain said springs under a predetermined load, said platform when in its normalhorizontal position resting on said preloaded springs at opposite sides of its pivotal mounting, and said platform as one end tilts downwardly due to unbalanced loading thereof further compressing the springs at the adjacent side of said pivotal mounting while the opposite end of said platform ntilts upwardly relative to said base member away from the expanded .preloaded springs at the other side of said pivotal mounting whereby said upwardly tilted end of said platform is at that time supported on said base member wholly independently of said springs last referred to.

12. A yieldably mounted, tiltable support comprising, in combination, aY base member, an elongated horizontal load-receiving platform overlying said base member, means for pivotally mounting said platform between its ends on said base member to rock relative thereto about a horizontal transverse axis, said mounting means including a member carried by said base member and having a curved upper surface against which the bottom of 'said platform rests, coil springs carried by said base member at the opposite sides of said pivotal mounting and spaced equidistantf ly from said transverse axis, and means connected to said base member and engaging the upper ends of said springs for compressing the latter to maintain said springs under a predetermined load, said platform when in its normal horizontal position resting against said springs whereby said preloaded springs hold Said platform in` such horizontal position, and said platform as it tilts downwardly at one end due to unbalanced loading thereof further compressing the springs at the adjacent side of said pivotal mounting while the opposite end of said platform tilts upwardly relative to said base member away from the expanded preloaded springs at said other side of said pivotal mounting whereby said upwardly tilted end of said platform is at that time supported on said base member Wholly independently of said springs last referred to.

CHARLES F. BALL.

REFERENCES CITED The,v following references are of record inthe le of this patent:

Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Howard Jan. 22, 1889 Ledward Nov. 29, 1898 Dearing May 21, 1912 Lutenberger May 21, 1912 Kadow Sept. 6, 1921 Manrock Apr. 5, 1927 Taber Apr. 14, 1931 Yosyk Feb. 26, 1935 Swan Feb. 24, 1942 

